The Real Talk About Data Backup

We need to talk about something that is as exciting as watching water boil, but it might just save your entire business one day: backing up your data.

I know, I know. You're busy doing your thing, closing deals, and you’re busy. The last thing on your mind is where your files are outside of your server. The truth is, it’s not very interesting, but it sure is important.

The Digital Apocalypse is Real

In every situation, your data is crucial to what you do and it’s all sitting there on a drive that could fail at any moment. Think about it. Your client lists, your financial records, that killer marketing campaign you've been working on for months; it's all digital. Now imagine it all just vanishing into thin air.

It may sound dramatic, but understand this: a crazy high percentage of companies that lose their data for more than a few days go belly-up. We're talking bankruptcy, unemployment, and you know… regret. All because they didn't have a solid backup plan. The worst part is that it can come from any direction. According to some 2024 stats, a staggering amount of data breaches are due to just plain old human error. Someone clicks a shady link, and BAM, your business is toast.

We’re here to make sure that doesn't happen to you. Here are some ways we go about it.

The 3-2-1 Rule

This is the golden rule of data backup. It's called the 3-2-1 Rule, and it's super simple to remember:

• THREE copies of your data. Yeah, three. Redundancy is your best friend.
• TWO different types of media. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. It’s good to use a local device and the cloud.
• ONE copy off-site. If your office gets destroyed, you'll have a safe copy chilling somewhere else.

It's best to think of it like this: you wouldn't just have one key to your house, right? You've probably got one on your keychain, one hidden under a rock someplace, and maybe you gave one to your mom. It’s the exact same principle.

Don't Just Set It and Forget It

Backing up your data is not a one-and-done deal. You've got to keep on it. Here are a few more pro tips:

• Automate what you can - Don't rely on your memory. Set up your backups to run automatically. Daily is good, more often is even better for super critical stuff.
• Encrypt it - Make sure your backups are locked down tight. Encryption scrambles your data so even if someone gets their grubby hands on it, it's just a bunch of gibberish to them.
• Test it - This is a big one. Regularly test your backups to make sure you can actually restore your data. A backup that doesn't work is about as useful as a fork with a bowl of soup.

We Got Your Back

You may not have time to worry about the nitty-gritty of IT. That's where we come in. At Preferred, we provide proactive business technology support for organizations. We handle the technology headaches so you can focus on what you do best.

We can set you up with a bulletproof backup strategy using our BDR that delivers peace of mind and protection against all types of hypothetical disasters. Are you ready to stop worrying and start winning? Give us a call at 708-781-7110 and let's chat about how we can help you protect your digital assets.